RAIDERS NOTEBOOK / No. 3 QB scrambling for his job

Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Monday, August 22, 2005

Perhaps Marques Tuiasosopo feels his window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Maybe the frustration of waiting four seasons for a starting shot compels him to press, to do more than he should on the field.

In an exhibition season where the Raiders' scrambling backup quarterback is seeing substantial playing time, great plays are no longer surprises but expected -- and the mistakes are more glaring.

No one knows this more than Tuiasosopo, whose two interceptions were instrumental in the Raiders losing both of their exhibition games.

Saturday night in Houston, the fifth-year understudy to Rich Gannon and Kerry Collins berated himself for a third-quarter mistake, a floating pass toward wide receiver Alvis Whitted on 1st-and-10 at the Texans' 24-yard line that was picked off in the end zone by Jason Simmons.

"I had a chance to stay to the right side and just give (Whitted) a better chance; it's one-on-one versus two-on-one," said Tuiasosopo, reliving the play in which he overthrew his man. "I was just trying to make a play."

Certainly Whitted is capable of making a leaping catch, and has proved he can haul in a slightly wayward ball. But Tuiasosopo's command of the offense, which seemed so promising in the 2004 preseason, appears less so this year. And any chances he takes are leading to turnovers, not touchdowns.

Collins was the newcomer in '04 and got the bulk of the snaps as Gannon saw limited time in that exhibition season. But Tuiasosopo was close behind, completing 23-of-39 passes for 325 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating at the end of the preseason was 111.6.

Through two games this year, Tuiasosopo is 16-of-25 for 199 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns. His rating has plunged to 55.3.

With Collins firmly in charge now and a new quarterback -- third-round draft pick Andrew Walter -- waiting in the wings, is Tuiasosopo pressing too much?

"Well, we have to find out if it's pressing or if it's problematic and we just have to keep working at it," coach Norv Turner said. "He's just got to understand, that ball is precious. ... It's every guy on the sidelines. The guy with the ball in his hands, he holds our futures and it's precious."

Curry returns this week: Wide receiver Ronald Curry, who has been slowly strengthening his surgically repaired Achilles tendon, could make his exhibition debut Friday night when the 0-2 Raiders play host to Arizona at the Coliseum, Turner said. Wide receiver Jerry Porter (hamstring) also is expected to return to full practices this week as the team concludes the Napa portion of training camp Wednesday.

But second-year receiver Carlos Francis, who is returning from ACL surgery in 2004 and has been nursing a strained hamstring, isn't expected to practice or play this week.

As Johnnie Morant (six catches, 117 yards), Doug Gabriel (5-109, two TDs) and Whitted (6-56) continue to improve each week, Turner said it's imperative for Francis to get on the field as soon as he's healthy.

"It's critical for Carlos to get going and get some work," said Turner, who doesn't want to risk aggravating Francis' injury by rushing him back on a short week.

Briefly: Punter Shane Lechler (hamstring) will not play in the Cardinals game, and that means the team must continue to work with Tuiasosopo as the backup holder for kicker Sebastian Janikowski. That combination, along with the absence of long-snapper Adam Treu (calf), has contributed to Janikowski missing three field goal attempts in two games. ... The Raiders have not decided how they will replace injured linebacker Sam Williams (torn ACL, out for the season) in the starting lineup, but Turner was pleased with the play of backup Grant Irons, who started in Williams' place.